Cameron University
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| Established | 1908 |
|---|---|
| Type | Public |
| President | Cindy Ross |
| Students | 5,589 |
| Undergraduates | 5,202 |
| Postgraduates | 387 |
| Location | Lawton, Oklahoma, United States |
| Mascot | Aggie |
| Website | http://www.cameron.edu |
Cameron University a four-year, state-funded university located in Lawton, Oklahoma, offers more than 50 degrees through two-year, four-year and graduate programs. The degree programs emphasize the liberal arts, science and technology and graduate and professional studies. Cameron is the only Oklahoma university which offers associate, bachelor’s and master’s degree programs at one site.
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[edit] History
The Oklahoma Legislature created six agricultural high schools in each judicial district just a year after statehood in 1908. Lawton was chosen to receive a high school over Anadarko in April, 1909, due to their having already set aside a portion of land for a higher educational institution. The University Improvement Association, under the auspices of the Lawton Chamber of Commerce, organized the effort to acquire 220 acres of land two miles direction west of the town. Its original goal was to secure a private Baptist college. Arrangements with the Baptists fell through in the summer of 1908. The Catholic Church approached the Association with an offer to form an all-male institution on the site. This plan was not acceptable to the town leaders. In early spring of 1909, the Lawton Chamber of Commerce, along with the support of Rev. E.D. Cameron. Cameron State School of Agriculture was named for the Rev. E. D. Cameron, a Baptist minister and Oklahoma’s first State Superintendent of Schools. The first classes were held on Statehood Day, November 16, 1909, in the basement of a bank building while a new campus building was constructed.
Cameron added junior college work in 1927 when local higher education needs exceeded what was available in Southwest Oklahoma. With this changed function came a new name — Cameron State Agricultural College. High school courses were dropped and Cameron became solely a junior college in 1941 when the Oklahoma State System of Higher Education was formed and joined the group of institutions governed by the Board of Regents of Oklahoma A&M Colleges.
Baccalaureate degrees were authorized in 1966 by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, following action by the Legislature. The institution’s name was shortened to Cameron College in 1971, then changed to Cameron University in 1974. As the 1970s continued, Cameron demonstrated its dedication to expanded academic offerings through the construction of a fine arts facility designed to serve students in theatre, music, broadcasting and speech communication.
In 1988, State Regents expanded Cameron’s functions to include offerings at the master's degree level. This change in function was the first granted to an Oklahoma institution since Cameron was given the authority to offer bachelor's degrees more than 20 years earlier.
In May 2004, Cameron took over the Duncan Higher Education Center in Duncan, Oklahoma and renamed it Cameron University - Duncan.
[edit] Campus life
Most courses are offered weekdays and evenings. Cameron utilizes television, the Internet, and a statewide fiber-optics network to deliver classes around the world. Students may participate in independent study, cooperative education, pre-professional studies, teacher certification, and the Army ROTC program. In addition, Cameron offers an honors program, early admission, advanced standing, and college-level examination programs.
A wide range of organizations and interest groups are located on campus, including departmental, minority, professional, political and religious organizations, and various honorary and recognition societies. Students can also become involved in student government, choral groups, a jazz ensemble, theatre, or Greek life.
Intercollegiate sports play an important role in Cameron’s campus life. University men play basketball, baseball, golf, and tennis, while Cameron women participate in basketball, volleyball, softball, and tennis. Cameron competes in the Lone Star Conference of the NCAA’s Division II.
In 1987, Cameron defeated Carson-Newman (Tenn.) 30-2 to win the NAIA Division I Football National Championship. Cameron had previously won a national championship as a junior college as well, but the university discontinued football in 1993 due to the costs of maintaining the program, particularly the need to replace the artificial turf at the stadium. Cameron has also won NAIA national championships in men's basketball (1980) and men's golf (1983).
[edit] Notable Alumni
- Jason Christiansen - Major League Baseball pitcher
- John Brandes — former Indianapolis Colts and Washington Redskins tight end
- Mark Cotney — former Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive back
